Philatelic Glossary
This glossary has been compiled from various different sources. Some of the terms have been reproduced with kind permission from the Stanley Gibbons Philatelic Terms Illustrated by James Mackay. If you think a term is missing please e-mail us.
Deliberate Error
Error made by Postal Authority to defeat philatelic speculation.
Delivery Point Code
Part of postcode (which is not used by the public) which is allocated to every postcode which identifies actual point of delivery within the postcode.
Demonitised
Unused postage stamps are termed "demonetised" when the issuing authority refuses to accept them as valid for pre-paying postage and will not exchange them for money.
Denomination
A stamp's monetary value usually expressed in numbers or words.
Departmental Stamps
Stamps provided for use of government departments on official mail.
Design Type
Term describing stamps whose designs differ from one another only in detail.
Desulphurisation
Process by which sulphur is removed from stamp colours which have been distorted through sulphuretting (q.v.).
Deutsche Post
(German) German Post Office.
Diadem
The circlet forming Queen Victoria's headdress on many of the earlier stamps of her reign and that of Queen Elizabeth II.
Diamond Roulette
Another name for the French Percé en Losanges (q.v.).
Dickinson Paper
Type of paper containing a continuous coloured thread or threads of cotton manufactured by John Dickinson & Co.
Die
The piece of metal on which the design of a stamp is first engraved is called the master die (q.v.). After hardening it is used directly to reproduce identical impressions on the plate from which the stamp will be printed or from which subsidiary Dies or Rollers are derived.
Die Cutting
A process for cutting paper by means of variously shaped dies under pressure.
Die Flaw
Any blemish or unusual mark on a die from which printing surfaces have been produced shows on every stamp reproduced from that die.
Die Proof
Upon completion of a die, trial printings are taken. They are the final checks before the plate is made.
Dienst
(German) Official.
Dienstpost
(German) Official post.
Digital Printing
A process pioneered in Australia where arrangements were made for 2000 Olympic Games stamps to be printed in six different locations throughout the country.
Diligencia
(Spanish) A type of mail or stage coach.
Diplomatic Mail
Mail sent by or on behalf of a Diplomat Attaché in the Diplomatic Bag for security reasons.
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Philatelic Research
Our guide to conducting philatelic research at the Royal Mail Archive
Find out how to study our collection of unique registration sheets, metal dies and plates, and modern stamp artwork.
Volunteers
Volunteers offer us invaluable support - and extra help is always welcome!
Our volunteers have helped catalogue our collection, run our events, and more. Find out how to get involved.
